New Malden Primary School Case Study

Transcription

1 Cultivating the Future Across the UK more school children and getting interested in enjoying the social benefits of gardening while learning through the National Curriculum. Quadron was approached by Old Malden Safer Neighbourhood Team in July 2009 and asked to look at establishing a gardening club in Malden Manor Primary School. In an attempt to create an integrated approach to gardening in the school a meeting was set up to establish stakeholders within the school and the wider community, and from the initial meeting the following key partners were established: School champions: Head teacher School Caretaker Primary Class Teacher Liaison Community Champions: Old Malden Safer Neighbourhood Team (SNT) - Chris Hamilton Quadron Services Ltd (QSL) - Andrew Kauffman and Lionel Randell Local garden centre owner Gardencare Services Ltd - Marc Patrick RBK Neighbourhood Officer - Hannah Reese Pride Catering - Tim Price Eco Local Schools club from Sutton provide interactive environmental education From the initial meeting in July it was clear from the school s point of view that an allotment plot on site would be of most benefit and a suitable site was allocated by the school. Hannah Reese from the RBK Neighbourhood Team indicated that the school would be eligible for a Neighbourhood Grant of to pump prime the project and get hold of much needed tools and materials which Chris Hamilton from the Old Malden SNT successfully applied for and was granted in August 2009.

2 Building the Allotment Gardens Once received, QSL and Gardencare Ltd worked together to design and fund the construction of six raised beds within the school grounds, one for each year group. Construction was completed in September 2009.

3 Taster Sessions - Sowing the Seeds During October and November 2009 QSL, along with Gardencare and SNT, visited all the classes in the school and organised a taster session with the children, planting some winter onion and garlic crops with Years 1-3 and seed planting with Years 4-6.

4 Lessons continued throughout the Spring.

5 In February 2010 QSL and Old Malden SNT arranged for Eco Local to come into the school and run a programme of class work shops on Healthy Eating and Food Growing. Eco Local also provide a list of crops and associated growing windows that fit into school term time and children can then plant and harvest crops within school terms as well as being involved in the tending and watering of crops during out of school clubs.

6 Pride Catering Ltd who are the school meals provider for New Malden Primary are also involved in the long term funding of the project and will purchase crops from the schools allotment which will be used in the schools meals so the children will eat the fruits and vegetables of their labour. Crops will also be used in Home Economics and school cookery classes in the new year. Quadron feels that: Every child should know how to grow plants, fruits and vegetables, so that they can be empowered to make a difference in the future A set of class lesson guides is given on the next few pages.

7 Malden Manor Primary School Allotment Garden Project Year 1 Lesson 1 Sowing Seeds What are we growing? Tomato What depth do we need to plant the seed? Sow seed on soil surface with light covering of vermiculite What do we plant the seed in? Seed Compost and Vermiculite What things do we need to do, to get the seed to grow or germinate? Heat Put the pot in a plastic bag to act like a greenhouse and keep inside to trick the plant that it is spring. Light Put the seed on the windowsill Water Water the plant when compost starts to dry Nutrients The seed compost provides all necessary nutrients for root growth How long will the seed take to germinate? 7-10 days depending on Heat / Light / Water and Nutrients. What month of the year would you normally sow tomato seeds? March / April At what size would you normally plant out the seedlings into your allotment? Approximately 20cm tall What months of the year would you normally harvest tomatoes? July / December

8 Malden Manor Primary School Allotment Garden Project Year 2 Lesson 1 Sowing Seeds What are we growing? Sweet Pepper What depth do we need to plant the seed? Sow seed on soil surface with light covering of vermiculite What do we plant the seed in? Seed Compost and Vermiculite What things do we need to do, to get the seed to grow or germinate? Heat Put the pot in a plastic bag to act like a greenhouse and keep inside to trick the plant that it is spring. Light Put the seed on the windowsill Water Water the plant when compost starts to dry Nutrients The seed compost provides all necessary nutrients for root growth How long will the seed take to germinate? 7-10 days depending on Heat / Light / Water and Nutrients. What month of the year would you normally sow pepper seeds? March / April At what size would you normally plant out the seedlings into your allotment? Approximately10cm tall What months of the year would you normally harvest peppers? July / October

9 What are we growing? Broccoli Malden Manor Primary School Allotment Garden Project Year 3 Lesson 1 Sowing Seeds What depth do we need to plant the seed? 1cm deep drills then fill in hole with seed compost and vermiculite. What do we plant the seed in? Seed Compost and Vermiculite What things do we need to do, to get the seed to grow or germinate? Heat Put the pot in a plastic bag to act like a greenhouse and keep inside to trick the plant that it is spring. Light Put the seed on the windowsill Water Water the plant when compost starts to dry Nutrients The seed compost provides all necessary nutrients for root growth How long will the seed take to germinate? 7-10 days depending on Heat / Light / Water and Nutrients. What month of the year would you normally sow broccoli seeds? April / June At what stage of development would you normally plant out the seedlings into your allotment? 5-6 leaf stage What months of the year would you normally Harvest broccoli? January onwards

10 What are we growing? Onions White Malden Manor Primary School Allotment Garden Project Year 4 Lesson 1 Planting Sets What do we plant the sets in? Deeply cultivated and well drained soil in sunny position with application of well rotted manure. Why do we plant onions in rows? Easy when weeding, if crops are grown in rows you know what is the crop and what are just weeds. Which way up do I need to plant my Onion sets? The furry end is the root and the pointed end is the shoot. The shoot needs to point upwards and be showing above the soil line. How deep do I plant the onion sets? Plant up to 3cm deep so the tip of the shout can be seen above ground. Make sure you don t plant upside down! How far apart should I plant my onions sets? Plant approximately 12cm apart What month of the year would you normally plant onion sets? October / December What months of the year would your onion be mature to pick? May / June What happens when frost warning is given? Keep an eye on the weather forecast. If the temperature is going to go below zero it is important that horticultural fleece is put over the onions and garlic so the new shoots are protected. What other things do we need to protect against? Birds.. They are very tempted by the new shoots, each year group needs to design and make their own bird scarer for their plot!!!!

11 Malden Manor Primary School Allotment Garden Project Year 5 Lesson 1 Planting Sets What are we growing? Onions Red What do we plant the sets in? Deeply cultivated and well drained soil in sunny position with application of well rotted manure. Why do we plant onions in rows? Easy when weeding, if crops are grown in rows you know what is the crop and what are just weeds. Which way up do I need to plant my Onion sets? The furry end is the root and the pointed end is the shoot. The shoot needs to point upwards and be showing above the soil line. How deep do I plant the onion sets? Plant up to 3cm deep so the tip of the shout can be seen above ground. Make sure you don t plant upside down! How far apart should I plant my onions sets? Plant approximately 12cm apart What month of the year would you normally plant onion sets? October / December What months of the year would your onions be mature to pick? May / June What happens when frost warning is given? Keep an eye on the weather forecast.if the temperature is going to go below zero it is important that horticultural fleece is put over the onions and garlic so the new shoots are protected. What other things do we need to protect against? Birds..They are very tempted by the new shoots, each year group needs to design and make their own bird scarer for their plot!!!!

12 What are we growing? Garlic Malden Manor Primary School Allotment Garden Project Year 6 Lesson 1 Planting Sets What do we plant the sets in? Deeply cultivated and well drained soil in sunny position with application of well rotted manure. Why do we plant garlic in rows? Easy when weeding, if crops are grown in rows you know what is the crop and what are just weeds. Which way up do I need to plant the garlic sets? The furry end is the root and the pointed end is the shoot. The shoot needs to point upwards and be showing above the soil line. How deep do I plant the garlic sets? Plant up to 3cm deep so the tip of the shout can be seen above ground. Make sure you don t plant upside down! How far apart should I plant my garlic sets? Plant approximately 12cm apart What month of the year would you normally plant garlic sets? October / December What months of the year would your garlic be mature to pick? June What happens when frost warning is given? Keep an eye on the weather forecast. If the temperature is going to go below zero it is important that horticultural fleece is put over the onions and garlic so the new shoots are protected.